THE GFK
INNOVATION AWARD-
Sponsors
Introducing the GfK Innovation Award sponsors:
iBanFirst SA
iBanFirst SA is a leading provider of international payment transactions and currency hedging, specializing in the needs of medium-sized companies. Companies use a high-performance platform to process cross-border payments in over 30 currencies quickly, transparently and efficiently. The aim is to secure margins through optimized exchange rates and actively manage future risks in payment transactions. The integrated FX risk management solutions support companies in hedging currency fluctuations in a targeted manner. The focus is on efficiency, transparency and full cost control. iBanFirst simplifies complex processes through central currency accounts and modern technology. Over 10,000 companies in Europe already use the platform for their international payment transactions. With a local presence and a clear focus on technological innovation, iBanFirst offers an intelligent alternative to traditional banking solutions.
Swallow
Schwalbe is backed by Ralf Bohle GmbH, a family-run company that is now in its third generation. Europe’s leading manufacturer of bicycle tires has been setting the standard for high-quality, innovative and durable products since 1973. At the same time, Schwalbe is a pioneer in the field of ecological and social responsibility. With the world’s first holistic bicycle tire recycling and the production of 70% of its product range from used tires, among other things, the company has achieved two absolute pioneering achievements.
EuroElite Germany
My coaching story at professional level began in Malmö in 1996. I was head coach at Malmö Bellevue TK for ten years and at the same time worked for the Swedish Sports Federation in the ‘Coordination Performance Coaches’ department. I came to Germany in 2005 to coach TC Max Aicher Piding in the Bundesliga. The planned three months turned into something else… I was with the Salzburg Tennis Association for five years and then founded EuroElite Germany Academy in 2012. The fact that tennis is a very expensive competitive sport in Germany and Austria has always bothered me and I wanted to do something about it. We started with a very “un-German” concept with two companies and eight players. Today we have a business network with over 30 companies, eight coaches (three of whom are permanently employed) and support almost 100 players from the region. Our catchment area is from Rosenheim (DE) to Radstadt (AT). Our motto is still “competitive tennis must be affordable for every child”.
EuroElite Scandinavia is a company from Sweden, and of course there are many collaborations and points of contact between the two companies.
Berger Vorsorge GmbH – Your partner for occupational benefits and corporate pension solutions
Berger Vorsorge GmbH specializes in holistic consulting and implementation in the areas of company pension schemes, company health insurance, business insurance and commercial property insurance. Our focus is on medium-sized companies, particularly in the skilled trades and manufacturing industries.
With an experienced team, digital solutions and a strong network, we develop tailor-made pension concepts – sustainable, legally compliant and future-oriented.
CreativeRealists
KreativRealisten – Gesellschaft für strategische Marketingkommunikation works for hidden champions, FMCG, retail and public clients such as ministries, local authorities and public utilities.
The focus is on achieving marketing, sales and image goals in a 360-degree manner. The communication discipline is of secondary importance, the positioning, the messages and the clear segmentation with surprising creativity and straightforward design are target-oriented and effective at KR.
Be.A.Star-Productions GmbH
Since its foundation in 2019, Be.A.Star-Productions GmbH has stood for creative excellence, technical precision and strong brand staging. As a full-service content agency, the team around Managing Director Benny Schmidt realizes high-quality productions in the areas of video, photo, web design and social media – for well-known clients such as BIONTECH, ALDI, the city of Cologne, but also for entertainers such as Oliver Pocher.
A special highlight is the annual series of events at Cologne’s Flora. In 2025, Be.A.Star-Productions rents the historic building for a full 14 days – and transforms it into a professional event and TV studio. Ten days of events are planned with a total of 11 events, including industry meetings, gala evenings, award ceremonies and inspiring talk formats.
A milestone in this context: The production of the GfK Innovation Award 2025. As the producer of this special award, Be.A.Star bears a responsibility that the entire team looks back on with pride – and once again demonstrates its ability to combine emotion, innovation and technical expertise in unique events.
Sven Birkenfeld
My path was anything but classic: from poor student to master craftsman – and finally to entrepreneur and investor. In the last twelve years, I have founded and managed seven companies. This journey has shown me: True entrepreneurship does not start with perfect prerequisites, but with passion, perseverance and the ability to find creative solutions.
As a craftsman, I learned early on: “What doesn’t fit is made to fit.” I see exactly the same spirit in courageous founders – people who want to think, tackle and shape things differently. I am convinced that with flexibility and a wealth of ideas, almost anything is possible.
Today, I not only support my own projects, but also help promising start-ups on their way as an investor – with capital, expertise and a strong network. The Wecon Network Mallorca is a special place for exchange and inspiration for me. This is where entrepreneurs meet who want to grow together, learn from each other and create real connections – far away from traditional business conventions, but close to the real world.
As a jury member of the GfK Innovation Award, I am looking forward to getting to know innovative minds, experiencing fresh ideas and making my contribution to the further growth of entrepreneurship in Germany – honestly, practically and with a clear message: Dare!
CONZEPTA’S Assekuranzmakler AG
CONZEPTA’S Assekuranzmakler AG sees itself as the strategic partner for all matters relating to risk and insurance management. They do not act as mere product sellers, but as the “external insurance department” for a broad customer base ranging from hidden champions and medium-sized companies to large corporations and discerning private customers.
The CONZEPTA’S Assekuranzmakler AG philosophy focuses on the holistic achievement of individual protection and cost optimization goals in a 360-degree manner. Pure insurance brokerage is of secondary importance. Rather, it is the well-founded risk analysis, the strategic positioning of insurance needs and the clear segmentation of suitable solutions that are target-oriented and effective in terms of results at CONZEPTA’S Assekuranzmakler AG. With surprising creativity in concept development and straightforward, efficient management of insurance programs, they guarantee sustainable added value for their clients.
Sparkasse Rosenheim-Bad Aibling
Sparkasse Rosenheim-Bad Aibling is based in Rosenheim (Bavaria). As a public-law institution, it feels particularly committed to the common good and is specifically involved in the economic development of the region. It offers private customers, companies and public institutions a comprehensive range of financial services – from payment transactions and credit financing to asset management and targeted support for business start-ups.
Sparkasse Rosenheim-Bad Aibling supports start-ups with both personal advice and special financing offers, such as flexible start-up loans or the provision of public funding. In addition, the Sparkasse is active in start-up competitions and digital start-up centers in order to support innovative and sustainable business models in the region at an early stage. This commitment is based on the conviction that young companies in particular are important drivers of innovative solutions and ecological change.
mySTOPY – because security is priceless.
For parents, there is nothing more important than the well-being of their children. With mySTOPY, you give your child a bit of freedom – and still retain a reassuring feeling of safety. The handy device is child’s play to operate and provides immediate help and attention in an emergency. So you know: Your child is not alone when they need you.
mySTOPY gives families trust, security and the good feeling of being there for each other at all times.
Büchel – Passion for the bicycle
As one of the leading manufacturers of high-quality bicycle parts, Büchel equips renowned bicycle brands in Germany and throughout Europe with innovative components. Our claim: We contribute to enriching the world of cycling with sustainable, high-performance and pioneering solutions.
The Büchel Group is a traditional family business with over 100 years of history. Since our beginnings in 1920 in Zella-Mehlis, we have developed into one of the largest bicycle parts manufacturers in Germany and Europe. Today, our portfolio includes lighting, luggage racks, mudguards, spokes, rims, wheels, saddles, grips and locks – including for e-bikes. Our family of companies also includes brands such as VUELTA, EXAL, WITTKOP and SEKURA.
Our strength lies in the combination of tradition, innovation and dynamism:
- Tradition: We maintain close, trusting relationships with long-standing customers, suppliers and employees.
- Innovation: We are setting technological standards with developments such as SEKUCLIPS®, our intelligent STOPTECH-E brake light technology (in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute) and the wireless and battery-powered bicycle blinker system.
- Dynamic: Our Germany-wide production structure – from Fulda to Oederan to Barchfeld – combines in-house tool and machine production with state-of-the-art CAD/CAM technology.
As a future-oriented company, we attach great importance to environmental protection. Examples include mudguards made from recycled materials and packaging savings – we strive to have as green a footprint as possible. We also benefit from our global presence: production sites in Asia enable trend technology in an international context.
With over 250 employees and six locations in Germany, our own joint ventures in Asia, millions of spokes, rims and headlights produced every year and numerous patents and utility models, we anchor technical expertise, growth and quality in everything we do.
SüdFactoring GmbH
As SüdFactoring GmbH, we have been an established name in the German factoring market for over five decades – as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Landesbank Baden-Württemberg, we combine stability, financial security and excellent expertise. Medium-sized companies in particular that value solid financing solutions will find us to be a partner that acts in a sophisticated, trustworthy and professional manner.
Our corporate culture is based on partnership, quality, innovation and tradition – values that we live by every day. Our work is solution-oriented and efficient, tailored to the individual needs of our customers. From full service to in-house factoring through to partial factoring: every solution is implemented individually, flexibly and tailor-made.
As a pioneer in ESG-linked factoring, SüdFactoring GmbH combines financing and sustainability in a transparent model: sustainability ratings directly influence the financing conditions – the better the rating, the more favorable the conditions. We thus offer state-of-the-art and responsible financing solutions.
Would you also like to get involved in sustainability and innovation with us?
Then become a sponsor of the GfK Innovation Award!